Sliver-tension regulator for roving-machines



(No Model.)

H. M, HEPLIN.

SLIVER TENSION REGULATOR FOR RQVING MAGHINES. N0.'486,Z5Z. Patented NOV.15, 1892.

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item STATES I ATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. HEFLIN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO GEORGEDRAPER & SONS, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SLlVER-TENSION REGULATOR FOR ROVlNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,252, dated November15, 1892. Application filed March 29, 1892. Serial No. 426.885. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: v

' Be it known that I, HENRY M. I-IEFLIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Sliver-Tension Regulators forRoving-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved mechanism for application tocotton-spinning machines termed slubbers, Speeders, or flyframes, withthe object of providing means for regulating the tension of the sliversor rovings where they pass from the drawingrolls to the fliers andbobbins.

In machines of the class to which this invention relates the speed ofthe bobbins must change as the diameter of the bobbins increases withthe winding on of the sliver. During the operation of the machine thesliver is continually varying in thickness or diameter. Should it becomea little lighter or smaller in diameter, it will run slack, as theincrease in diameter of the bobbin is not as great, while the change inspeed is uniform and the delivery from the front rolls always remainsuniform whatever the variations in the sliver may be. Should the sliverrun a little heavier or greater in diameter, then it will become taut,as the increase in diameter of the bobbin will be greater in proportionwhile the speed changes uniformly. Changes in the weather affect thecotton sliver. In damp weather the cotton lies more compactly and asmaller sliver is the result, and the fliers become sticky, causing thesliver to run slack. In cold weather the diameter of the sliverincreases, which would cause it to run taut. Such variations in thetension of the sliver are detrimental to a first-class product of themachine. Slackness in the sliver would operate against the effectivenessof the twist, while if too taut the sliver is subjected to a strain.Obviously irregularities in the thread result. It is therefore importantthat the tension of the sliver be kept uniform as nearly My inventioncontemplates the accomplishment of this result.

A well-known way of obtaining the differential motion of the fliers andbobbins is by means ofcone-pulleys and a belt connecting them, withmechanism for shifting said belt intermittently step by step from oneend of the cone-pulleys toward the opposite end as the diameters of thebobbins increase. Means are provided for regulating the length ofintermittent movement of the belt-shifter to suit different hanks ofsliver. Changing the position of the belt by turning backward or forwardthe mechanism for intermittently shifting it to regulate the tension ofthe sliver is not practical and cannot accomplish the result, as asufficiently-fine adjustment cannot be secured by this means, and such amanipulation of the machine would affectthe whole mechanism and disturbthe build of sliver on the bobbins.

My invention in the form. here shown embodies means for adjusting thecone-belt to regulate the tension of the sliver entirely independent ofthe mechanism for imparting the regular intermittent shift. Aconstruction for carrying out this object is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a rear elevation of thatportion of the machinery of a spinning-machine which embraces thecone-pulleys, my invention being shown applied. Fig. 2 shows across-section of the machinery, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3shows a fragmentary elevation of a front panel which closes in themachinery. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged perspective view of the cone-beltshifter.

In the drawings the letterA designates the main frame of the machine; BB, the conepulleys, suitably mounted one above the other, the upper oneB being the" driver and the lower one B the driven, and O the beltconnecting said pulleys. When the machine is started with empty bobbins,the belt is at the fast endz'. a, passing over the large end of thedriver cone and the small end of the driven cone. A belt-shifter engagesthe belt and is carried in a frame D, to the front side of which framean endless chain E is connected by means of a screw a, passing through aflat link I) of said chain and fastened in the frame. With each increasein diameter of the bobbin by the winding on of the sliver the belt isshifted toward the opposite end Of the pulleys by suitable mechanismconnected with the chain E for the purpose of.

intermittently graduating the speed of the bobbins. The length of shiftis determined by previous adjustment of said actuating mechanism, sothat it will accord with the hank of the roving under treatment. This isthe well-known arrangement and operation and needs no furtherdescription here.

The desideratum with me is to adjust the belt on the cone-pulleysindependent of its driving mechanism, and this I accomplish by thefollowing-described mechanism: The beltshifter proper or the holder orguide for the belt consists of a rectangular frame F, through which thebelt passes. The said rectangular frame has an arm G at its rear endprojecting up through the frame D, hereinbefore mentioned, and having asleeve H, formed on its end, which sleeve fits loose on a guide shaft orrail G. At the front end the rectangular frame has a downward-extendingarm I, with a saddle J on its end, which fits loose upon another guideshaft or rail K. The frame D has two side arms D, between which a wormor screw L is mounted longitudinally, and a curved bracket M is securedto the rear side of the arm G of the belt-frame F and takes partiallyaround the said worm or screw L. This bracket carries a pin 0, whichengages the thread of the worm or screw. A spline-shaft N extendslongitudinally through the worm or screw L and carries at one part afixed bevel-pinion O. This bevel-pinion is engaged by a similar bevelgear-wheel 0 on the end of a rod or stem P, which extends through theframe and out of the front of the same, where it is provided with acircular knob Q, suitably milled on its periphery. This knob has acircular plate or disk S formed with it and fitting close to the outerside of a panel R, which closes in the front of the machinery. The saiddisk is graduated around its periphery, and the panel has a central markd to register with the graduations on the disk, on one side of whichcenter mark is inscribed the letter T to indicate taut, while on theother side of the mark is the letter S to indicate slack. A small weightT is suspended by a cord T from the stem or rod P, for a purposehereinafter explained.

The knob Q is located at a point from which the attendant may have infull view all the rovin gs or slivers. If any of the slivers should benoticed running slack, the attendant will turn the knob toward theletter T. This, it will be observed, turns the worm or screw L throughthe bevel'gear O O and spline-shaft N. The screw-thread, which engagesthe pin 0, moves the belt-shifter back toward the fast ends of thecones. Theknob is turned until the sliver is brought to the propertension. Should the sliver run too tight, the knob is turned toward theletter S, which operation has the opposite effecti. 6., moves thebeltshifter and belt farther toward the slow end of the pulleys tolessen the speed and relieve the sliver. It will be seen that by meansof this mechanism a very fine adjustment is obtained by which thetension of the sliver may be perfectly controlled and regulated withoutin any way interfering with or affecting the working parts of themachine outside of the shifter itself.

When the shifter is wound back to the fast end of the cones when a newset of bobbins is to be started, if the dial-knob has been turned duringthe building of the preceding set of bobbins it will be turned backuntil its center mark (Z registers with the center mark on the graduatedindicator-plate S. This will bring the parts in proper adjustment forstarting. If the dial-knob has been turned more than halfway around inadjusting the tension of the sliver, some confusion might arise as towhen the parts are in their normal state, as the knob may have madeacomplete revolution and still the center marks would register. Hence Ihave provided the weight T, which will indicate when the knob is back atits original position by depending straight downward from the stem tothe full length of the cord.

A frame fitted with my appliance is capable of turning out betterquality of work. The rovings can be run with less twist to the inch,which makes it easier for the rolls of the succeeding machines to drawdown the twisted sliver, and saves the roll'coverings from wear. Theresult is a better and evener thread. Moreover, the inconvenienceandloss of time incident to the breaking down of the sliver ends is in agreat measure avoided, whereby the machine will turn out a greaterquantity of work in a specified time.

My invention is applicable to roving-machines of all kinds, and may beembodied in many differentforms and operated in many different ways.Hence I am not limited to the construction shown, but claim, broadly,any means for carrying out the invention set up herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In roving machinery, the combination of cone-pulleys for driving thebobbins, a belt running over said pulleys, a holder or guide for saidbelt, driving mechanism for intermit-' tently shifting the said holderand bolt step by step from one end of the pulleys toward the other,means for adjusting the holder and belt independently of the saiddriving mechanism, and a permanently-located handle for operating saidadjusting means.

2. In roving machinery, the combination of cone-pulleys for driving thebobbins, a belt running over said pulleys, a holder or guide for saidbelt, a worm or screw on which said belt-holder may be adjusted, andintermittent shifting mechanism connected with said screw.

3. In roving machinery, the combination of cone-pulleys for driving thebobbins, a belt running over said pulleys, a movable frame,

intermittent shifting mechanism connected with said frame, a holder orguidefor said belt, mounted in the frame and movable therein, and meansfor adjusting the said holder to difi'erent positions in the framewithout affectingthe intermittent shiftin g mechanism.

4:. In roving machinery, the combination of cone-pulleys for driving thebobbins, a belt running over said pulleys, a movable frame, intermittentshifting mechanism connected with said frame, a Worm or screw mounted inthe frame, and a holder or guide for the belt, engaging said worm orscrew and adjustable thereon.

5. In roving machinery, the combination, with cone-pulleys for drivingthe bobbins, a belt running over said pulleys, a holder or guide for thebelt, carried in a frame, and mechanism connected with said frame forintermittently shifting the belt, of a worm or screw mounted in theframe and engaging the said holder, a spline-shaft runningthrough saidworm or screw, and a rod or stem gearing with said spline-shaft andcarryinga dialknob, for the purpose described.

6. In roving machinery, the combination, with cone-pulleys for drivingthe bobbins, a belt running over said pulleys, a holder or guide forsaid belt, carried in a frame, and

HENRY M. HEFLIN.

Witnesses:

THs. KELL BRADFORD, LEE PuRoELL.

